Garment folding device



Nov. 4, 1952 A. ARRUDA 2,616,595

GARMENT FOLDING DEVICE Filed Sept. 11, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.Augusiine Anfluda yww ATTORNEY Nov. 4, 1952 A. ARRUDA 2,616,595

GARMENT FOLDING DEVICE Filed Sept. 11, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 4,1952 A. ARRUDA GARMENT FOLDING DEVICE '7 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed Sept. 11,1947 INVENTOR. Augasfine Afiruda ATTORNEY.

Nov. 4, 1952 Filed Sept. 11, 1947 A. ARRUDA GARMENT FOLDING DEVICE '7Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TUQ.

ATTOR E Nov. 4, 1952 A. ARRUDA GARMENT FOLDING DEVICE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Sept. 11, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

%ezL Z ATTORNE).

Nov. 4, 1952 Filed Sept. 11. 1947 A. ARRUDA GARMENT FOLDING DEVICE 7SheetsSheet 6 INVENTOR. Augusi'me Armada A T TORNE X Nov. 4, 1952 A.ARRUDA 2,616,595

GARMENT FOLDING DEVICE Filed Sept. 11, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 III! III 1I INVENTOR. 70a 69a Augusiine APPuda BY 7 ZZLWM %4 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED PAT O F FI C E Augustine Arruda, Yonkers,N. Y1, assignor to Time. Savers, Inc.,.Mntclair, N. .L, acorpora tion.ofiNew-Jersev Application September 11, 1941,,Serial No., 773,412

24: Claims.

1 This invention relates to garment folding apparatus: and hasparticularapplication to apparatus suitable for use in laundries,cleaning establishments, shirt factories and the like for foldinggarmentssuch as mens shirts.

I am awarethat it is already-known to performgarment folding operationson apparatusdesigned for such purposes. Indeed, such-apparatus insomewhat general use'in establishments such as those above indicated.Further; it canbe said;- that someof' theknown devices ofthe kind underconsideration have given and are are at present givingsatisfactoryservice when compared with hand-folding techniques.

Nevertheless, known garmentfolding devices dohavecertain-characteristicswhich render-them disadvantageous not onlyfrom thestandpoint of the operators who use them and the proprietorsof-the.establishments in which they are used; but also from the standpointof theshirt user. In this, connection, for example, it is a known factthat with. the known devices most.andin somecases, substantially all-ofthe operations are manualin nature- Therefore, the operator-necessarilyhas to expend acomparatively highamount of energy per, shirt or othergarment being folded. Fatigue of the operator often results. and: thisin turn reducesthe quantity; of; garments folded. peroperator-in agiven: period of time; andthequalitv of the. garments, as regards theirappearance suffers appreciably also.

By my present invention I provide; novel appar ratus which. is capableof materially increasing the quantity of, shirts or the like which canbe folded by an Operator in a given period of time with comparative easeand comfort, and without sacrificing the quality or appearance of thefoldedgarment. Furthermore, the present invention results, in a.substantial; increase. in the produc tivity of operators while at thesame, time actually. enabling the quality or appearance, of the folded,

garments to be ofa high order. Also, the period required to train ashirt, folding operator ismaeterially reduced by my invention.

The foregoing as. well as other advantages, of my invention will becomeapparent, from thefolrlowing detailed description, taken inconnection.

with the accompanying drawings. which. form a parthereof and in whichlike charactersdesignate,

corresponding parts thoughout.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a, shirt, folding apparatus embodying myinvention;

Figs. 2*to 9, inclusivaare perspectiveoperatione a1 views, showing thesequence of operations;

Fig; 2; showing part of the folding table at-the beginning of thefolding operation, with a shirtv laid front downon the table;

Fig; 3 being the same as Fig. 2 after the shirt plate unit has beenallowed to fall down on the shirt;

Fig. 4" showing the position of. the shirt and sleeve-folding mechanismafter the, latter has folded' the sleeves Fig: 5 showing the situationobtaining after the operator has grasped or pinched the sleeves,released the sleeve-folding mechanism, and given the clamp handle alight tap rearwardly of the table in order to permit the clamp to bedisposed onv top of the; folded sleeves as, shown, holding them in placeFig. 6; showing the position, of the garments atthe, end of the firstfolding operation involving the body; of the shirt;

Fig; 7 showing the view obtaining after the second body-foldingoperation, but before the second body-folding flap has returned. torest.

position;

Fig.- -8- showing the shirt in folded position, the. dotted lineindicating the transverse folding action; and

Fig. 9 showing the folded shirt after the fold,- ing board; and clamphave been hingeably raised; and

Figs. rot- 13; inclusive, are enlarged detailed sectional views takenalong the line i 0'l't| of'Fig, 1, and show the operation ofthepower-actuated body-folding-mechanism;

Fig. 10- showing the parts before the body-folding operation;

Fig. 1- 1 showing the position of the parts after thefirst body-foldingoperation has begun;

Fig; 12 indicating the position of the mechanism after the firstbody-folding operation has been completed; and

Fig; 13, showing-the arrangement at the end of'the second body-foldingoperation but before the; spring has pulled the flap with which it;operatively engagesto normal or restpositi'on.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that.

in the embodiment shown the shirt-folding apparatus comprise a table 20having top or bed 21' supported on. legs 22. Near one end. of; the.

hinges near the head end of the table top and movable from the openposition of Fig. 1 down upon a shirt lying on the table top to theposition shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The plate 24 constitutes aform about which the shirt is to be folded. It carries a clamp 26 whichis kept normally in closed position by spring 21 passing through hole24a as shown, for example, in Fig. 1. Clamp 26 can be movedindependently of plate 24 by means of the clamp handle 21a, which isrigidly attached to clamp 26 at 26a.

Journaled in hinge openings or bearings 23 is a pintle 29 to the ends ofwhich are rigidly attached, as by welding, collars 30 in which auxiliaryfolder arms 3| and 32 are rotatably carried.

The main folder arms are 33. In the embodiments herein shown the sourceof power is compressed air but it will be understood that other suitablefluid or other means may be employed. The arms 33 in normal or restposition are as shown in Fig. 1. They are fixedly attached to connectingarms 34 at 35. The connecting levers 34 are connected withmovably-engaging links 36, 3'! by fixed pivots 38 and journaled inbearings 39 which bearings are supported by cross bar 49 secured to twoof the legs 22. Links 31 are movably joined at 4| to the open or U endof piston rod 42 engaging with piston (not shown) operating in cylinder43 which is secured as at 44 to table. Compressed air is introduced intothe cylinder 43 from an air supply sourc (not shown) through air valve45 actuated by foot pedal 46 operatively connected with air valve 45through suitable piping 4'|.

Situated also on table top 2| are body fol-ding flaps 49 and 5|!hingeably mounted to the panel 49a, in the embodiments shown, at 5| and52, respectively. The body folding flaps 49 and 50 are power-actuated intimed relation to each other and carry along with them folder arms 3|and 32, respectively, in the folding part of their operation, as can beseen best in Fig. 6, showing arm 3| and folder flap 49 after the latterhas completed its folding operation on a shirt. The flaps 49 and 59 asshown have holes 53 which serve to reduce the resistance of the airduring the movement of the flaps.

The construction of the power-actuating means operatively associatedwith flaps 49 and 50 is indicated in part in Fig. l but can be bestunderstood by reference to Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13.

In normal or rest position the flaps rest on suitable means such asrubber stops 54, as shown, for example, in Fig. 10. Flap 49 haspivotally attached thereto as at 55 on its underside L-shaped member 56and the latter is pivoted at 51 to bar 58 which is also pivoted at 59and has a pin or cam follower 69 near its free end. The cam follower isengaged by cam 6| attached at 62 to one end of the link 63 duringdownward movement of said link. The cam is held in operable position bya suitable guide or stop 66 but during the upward movement of link 63,the cam is free to swing on pivot 62, enabling the cam end of link 63 toengage cam follower 60. The link 63 is pivotally mounted on housing 61at 68 and on arm 69 at point 10. Through link 59a bar 69 is fixedlyattached with plunger rod II at 12 and 10a, said plunger working inconnection with piston (not shown in air cylinder 13 connected to airvalve 14 (see Fig. 1), actuated through suitable piping 15, air valve I4being actuated by plunger 14a.

Link 63 is in pivoted relation near the end opposite the cam-carryingend to flap arm I6 at pivot 11. This flap arm itself is pivctally mount-4 ed to the under side of flap 50 at point 78. Also near the same end oflink 63 as pivot 11, spring 19 is attached as at 83, the spring beinganchored at its other end to one of the legs 22 of the table, as shownin Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive.

Flap arm 16 carries near its open end a pin 33 so placed as to engagewith flap lowering arm 8| after fiap 49 has completed its foldingoperation and while fiap 50 is in the course of carrying out its part inthe folding operation. Flap lowering arm 8| is pivotally mounted tohousing 61 at point 82. Near its end proximate to arm 53, arm 8| carriesa pin 83 so disposed as to engage with the top side of arm 55, therebycausing this arm and flap 49 to which member 56 is attached both toreturn to normal or rest position.

In addition to the foregoing details of construction of my novelapparatus, note may be made of other details illustrated in thedrawings. Thus, folder arms 33 are shown in normal position as restinagainst the sides of the table at 84 which latter may have suitablesound-damping material and in the embodiment described herein is made ofrubber. Also, cut-outs in flaps 49 and 50 are provided as at 85 (seeFigs. 12 and 13) to enable arm 56 and flap arm 16 to complet theirrespective folding operations. The broken lines 86 (see Fig. 4) indicatethe trajectory of the movement of the ends of folder arms 33. Toillustrate the last stages of the transverse shirtfolding operations,broken lines 87 are shown in Fig. 8.

Also, if desired, an elongated recess (not shown) may be provided, inconventional manner, to accommodate the front shirt buttons.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

With the table in normal or rest position, as shown in Fig. 1, a shirtI99 is placed, front down, on the table top so that the neckband orcollar is properly inserted in recess 23, and the shirt is neatlyarranged as indicated in Fig. 2, this operation merely involving a fewsweeps of the operators hands. By exerting a small force, as by a slightpush with the hand against clamp handle 21a, the clamp 26, plate 24 andauxiliary folder arms 3| and 32 all drop fiatwise on top of the shirtand assume the position indicated in Fig. 3. Foot pedal 46 is thendepressed, causing folder arms 33 to sweep over arms 3| and 32 and tocome to rest at the positions shown in Fig. 4, as will more fully bedescribed hereinafter. As before noted, the dotted lines 86 (Fig. 4)indicate the path followed by the ends of the folder arms 33 duringtheir travel. It will be obvious that the path, though arcuate. isnevertheless substantially parallel to the plane of the tabletop.

After the folder arms 33 have come to rest as just indicated, the edgesof the partially-folded sleeves of the shirt are grasped or pinchedtogether by the operator, as shown in Fig. 5. The foot pedal 46 is thenreleased, whereby the folder arms 33 swing back to their normalposition, their movement terminating at stops 84. A tap on the clamphandle 21a is then given by the operator so that clamp 26 is caused tobe raised above the folded shirt sleeves, and then falls into place onthe shirt sleeves, thereby keeping them in place as shown in Fig. 5. Theoperator now can remove her hand from the shirt as it is now no longerneeded to keep the sleeves in place.

The assembly is now ready for the shirt-folding operation. Plunger 14a(Figs. 1 and 6) is pushed down causing flap folders 49 and 50 tooperate. in timed relation, as. will be. more fully describedhereinafter. Folder 49 carries folder arm 3|: during its foldingoperation; Whereas folder 50' carries folder arm 32 during its foldingoperation. After both flap folders 49 and 50 have performed theirfolding functions, the position of the shirt and apparatus is as shownin Fig. 7.. It is noted that the body of the shirt has at this pointbeen folded throughout its length. Flap folder 5!! assumes its normal orat rest position as will later be fully described.

All that now remains to be done in order to complete the shirt-foldingoperations is for the operator to make transverse folds in accordancewith known procedure, and as indicated by the broken lines 8! in Fig. 8.After the shirt I has been folded and is in the position shown in Fig.8, a band may be fastened around the folded shirt. Whether or not such aband is applied, the folded shirt may be raised to the position as shownin Fig. 9 and is ready for removal from the plate 24. If no band hasbeen applied, a shirt envelope may be placed around the shirt inaccordance with known procedure and the folded shirt removed from theplate as before.

The action of the folder arms 33 in the shirtbody-folding operation withmy novel apparatus will be explained in detail inasmuch as such meansare believed to be novel and contribute substantially to theadvantageous operation of my apparatus.

As will be clear from Fig. 1 and from the foregoing description,depressing foot pedal 46 causes compressed air to flow in piping 41 andthrough air valve 45 into cylinder 43. The piston (not shown) isdepressed by the air pressure, causing piston rod 42 to move downward.This downward motion of piston rod 42 depresses links 31, therebycausing links 36 to move the tops of levers 34 towards the center of thetable, carrying folder arms 33 in a quasi-horizontal path directly overthe table and towards the center thereof. When the foot pedal 46 isreleased air leaves the cylinder 43 and piston rod 42 moves upward,causing the links 31 to move upward and making links 36 carry levers 34,and hence folder arms 33, to their normal or rest position, the arms 33coming to rest when they come into contact with stops 84.

The aforementioned shirt-body-folding means as shown in the embodimentsrepresented herein operate as follows: When the folding operations haveproceeded to the point indicated in Fig. and the hand shown in saidfigure has been removed from the shirt sleeves, plunger 14a (Fig. 1) ispressed down causing compressed air to flow into cylinder 13 throughpiping l5. Plunger H begins a downward movement causing arm 69 to movecorrespondingly in a downward direction. Since arm 69 is pivotallymounted to housing 61 at 68, the downward motion of arm 69 will causethat part of link 63 to the right (as shown in Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13)of the pivot point 68 also to move downward and carry cam 6i in, adownward sweeping direction. In the course of its movement cam 6|engages, that is, presses upon cam pin or follower 60 carried by lever58 as shown. Lever 58 being pivotally attached to the housing at 59 iscaused to move in a counter-clockwise direction (see Figs. and 11). Thismovement of lever 58 causes arm 56 to move in a general upwarddirection, upward pressure thereby being exerted against flap 46 at 55.As a result, the flap 49 is raised and moves in a co n e -cl ck e d ecion n its hinges 5| to the position shown in Fig, l 2.

While the just-described action was occurring, the flap 50 was also inmotion. While the partof link 63 to the right of pivot 68 was moving ina downward direction that part of the link to the left of the pivot 63moved in an upward direction. However, since the pivot 68 iseccentrically located on link 63,, the upward motion of; that. part ofthe link 63 to the left of the pivot, in particular at the, point 11,will in the first stages be relatively less than in the case with thatof the. right part of link 63, in particular, at cam 6!. Consequently,during the first stages of theaforesaid motion of link 63, flap arm itwill move relatively more slowly than. arm 56, thereby ac,- counting forflap 49 being substantially moved through its path before flap 5!! isappreciably moved. (See Fig. 12 in particular.) During the course of itsupward movement, but after flap 49 has completed its folding operation,flap arm 16 engages arm 6! by means of the pin carried by arm 16. Arm8!, which is pivoted at 82, car ries a pin 83 at its end near arm 56. Aspin Bil raises that part of arm 8| to the left of pivot 82, the part ofthe arm 8! to the right of this pivot moves in a downward direction.During this downward motion pin 83 causes the upper face of arm 56 tomove downward and the latter as a. result causes the flap. 49 to returnto its normal or rest position, as shown in Fig. 13..

All of the. action of the power-actuated shirtfolding means thus farrecited in detail occurs during one downward motion of the plunger H andindeed occurs during the first part of this downward motion. See Figs.11 and 12. As the piston rod 7! traverses the last part of its down wardmotion in response to the aforesaid pressing down of plunger 74a, flaparm 16 rapidly lifts flap 5!] through pressure exerted at I8, as shownin Fig. 13. When the plunger 14a is released, it being necessary to holdit only momentarily as the folding Operations actuated by it occur withgreat rapidity, the air leaves cylinder 13, and spring T9 attached tolink 63 at 88 returns this link and flap arm 16 pivotally connectedthereto to normal or rest position. At the same time the spring pullsflap folder 50 to its normal position by means of the force exerted at78, the flap moving on hinges 52, plunger H also being caused to moveupward, as now will be apparent, during the return of fiap 50 to itsnormal or rest position.

By the term power herein, I include means such as hand-operated levers,among others.

It will be understood that minor modifications may be made hereinwithout departing from the spirit of my invention. All suchmodifications are intended to be secured by me if they are embodied indevices coming within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A shirt folding device including a bed for receiving a shirt, a formmounted on said bed, folding means on said bed operable to fold thesleeves of said shirt around said form into such close proximity to eachother that their folded edges can be held by one hand of the operator,power means actuating said folding means, other folding means on saidbed operable to fold said shirt longitudinally along its length afterthe sleeves of said shirt have been folded by said first folding means,and power means actuating said other folding means.

2. A shirt folding device including a bed for receiving a shirt, a formmounted on said bed,

folding means on said bed operable to fold the sleeves of said shirtaround said form into such close proximity to each other that theirfolded edges can be held by one hand of the operator, said folding meansoperative within the confines of the sides of said bed, power meansactuating said folding means, other folding means on said bed operableto fold said shirt longitudinally along its length after the sleeves ofsaid shirt have been folded by said first folding means, said otherfolding means including two folding members adapted to operate in timedrelation to each other, and power means actuating said other foldingmeans.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein compressed air is the power-impartingmedium.

4. A shirt folding device, including a bed for receiving a shirt, a formmounted on said bed, a pair of swingable members swingably attached tosaid bed and adapted to fold the sleeves of the shirt, and a pair offolding members movably attached to said bed, said folding membersoperable to fold said shirt longitudinally along its length andincluding means to operatively engage said pair of swingable membersduring the folding operation of said folding members, and power meansfor actuating said folding members.

5. A shirt folding device, including a bed for receiving a shirt, a formmounted on said bed, a pair of swingable members swingably attached tosaid bed near the top thereof and on opposite sides of said form forholding the sleeves of the shirt, and a pair of folding members movablyattached to said bed along the middle and lower portions thereof, saidfolding members being operable individually to fold opposite sides ofsaid shirt longitudinally along its length and so located as operativelyto engage said pair of swingable members during the folding operation ofsaid folding members, and power means for actuating said foldingmembers.

6. A shirt folding device, including a bed for receiving a shirt, a formswingably mounted on said bed near the head thereof, a pair of swingablemembers on said bed over which the sleeves in unfolded condition can beplaced, another pair of swingable members on said bed operable over saidsleeves in unfolded condition, said pairs of swingable members being soarranged that the first of said pairs are adapted operatively to swingtowards each other, a pair of folding members movably attached to saidbed, said folding members operable to fold said shirt longitudinallyalong its length and so located as operatively to engage the second ofsaid pairs of swingable members during the folding operation of saidfolding members, and power means for actuating said folding members.

7. A shirt folding device, including a bed for receiving a shirt, a formswingably mounted on said bed near the head thereof, a pair of swingablemembers on said bed over which the sleeves in unfolded condition can beplaced, another pair of swingable members swingably attached to said bednear the head thereof and operable over said sleeves in unfoldedcondition, said pairs of swingable members being so arranged that thefirst of said pairs are adapted operatively to swing towards each other,a pair of folding members movably attached to said bed along the middleand lower portions thereof, said folding members operable to fold saidshift lonitudinally along its length and so located as operatively toengage the second of said pairs of swingable members during the foldingoperation of said folding members, and power means for actuating saidfolding members.

8. A shirt folding device, including a bed for receiving a shirt, a formswingably mounted on said bed near the head thereof, a pair of swingablemembers on said bed over which the sleeves in unfolded condition can beplaced, another pair of swingable members swingably attached to said bednear the head thereof and operable over said sleeves in unfoldedcondition, said pairs of swingable members being so arranged that thefirst of said pairs are adapted operatively to swing towards each other,a pair of folding members movably attached to said bed along the middleand lower portions thereof, said folding members operable in timedrelation to each other to fold said shirt longitudinally along itslength and so located as operatively to engage the second of said pairsof swingable members during the folding operation of said foldingmembers, and power means for actuating said folding members.

9. A shirt folding device comprising a bed on which a shirt may beplaced with the sleeves of the shirt extending outwardly from the bodyof the shirt, a form on said bed movable onto the central upper end ofthe shirt lying on the bed and about which the shirt is to be folded,means on said bed engaging beneath the outwardly extending sleeves andoperable to fold portions of said sleeves inwardly of the sides of thebody of the shirt with portions of the sleeves overlying said form, andmeans on said bed to fold longtiudinal side portions of the body of theshirt in overlying relation with respect to one another and to overliesaid form and the central portion of said shirt, and including a pair ofspaced longitudinally extending members lying on the bed and hingedabout their inner ends to the bed, and said members underlying the sidesof said shirt and being disposed on opposite sides of said form andextending beyond said form, and being swingable substantially abouttheir hinges to positions overlying the central portion of the bed.

10. A shirt folding device comprising a bed on which a shirt may beplaced with the sleeves of the shirt extending outwardly from the bodyof the shirt, a form on said bed movable onto the central upper end ofthe shirt lying on the bed and about which the shirt is to be folded,means on said bed engaging beneath the outwardly extending sleeves andoperable to fold portions of said sleeves inwardly of the sides of thebody of the shirt with portions of the sleeves overlying said form, andmeans on said bed to fold longitudinal side portions of the body of theshirt in overlying relation with respect to one another and to overliesaid form and the central portion of said shirt, and including a pair ofspaced longitudinally extending members lying on the bed and hingedabout their inner ends to the bed, and said members underlying the sidesof said shirt and being disposed on opposite sides of said form andextending beyond said form, and being swingable substantially 180 abouttheir hinges to positions overlying the central portion of the bed, saidsleeve folding means comprising members having longitudinal portionsnormally disposed beneath the sleeves, arms fixed to said longitudinallyextending members and projecting downwardly below the level of said bed,and said arms being pivoted on axes located below the level of said bed.

11. A shirt folding device comprising a bed 9 on which a shirt may beplaced with the sleeves of the shirt extending outwardly from the bodyof the shirt, a form on said bed movable onto the central upper end ofthe shirt lying on the bed and about which the shirt is to be folded,means on said bed engaging beneath the outwardlyextending sleeves andoperable tofold portions of said sleeves inwardly of the sides of thebody of the shirt with portions of the sleeves overlying said form, andmeans on said bed to fold longitudinal side portions of the body of theshirt in overlying relation with respect to one another and to overliesaid form and the central portion of said shirt, and including a pair ofspaced longitudinally extending members lying on the bed and hingedabout their inner ends to the bed, and said members underlying the sidesof said shirt and being disposed on opposite sides of said form andextending beyond said form, and being swingable substantially 180 abouttheir hinges to positions overlying the central portion of the bed, anda pair of members having longitudinal portions overlying the shirtadjacent the inner ends of the sleeves to hold the inner ends of thesleeves down against-the bed when the sleeve folding means operate tofold the sleeves inwardly, and said pair of members being pivoted aboutparallel pivotal axes disposed adjacent the sides of said form, and saidlongitudinally extending members overlapping said pivoted members whichunderlie the shirt, so that when said underlying pivoted members areswung inwardly, they will swing said pivoted members therewith.

12. A shirt folding machine comprising a table on which a shirt to befolded may be placed, with the front of the shirt down, means on thetable to grip the collar of the shirt on the table, a leaf pivoted tothe table and adapted to move from upright position down to the top ofthe table to overlie the central portion of the back of the shirt, apair of parallel bars at the top of the table in spaced parallelrelationship to the side edges of the leaf, and the sleeves of the shirtextending outwardly and over said bars and hanging down from the sidesof the table, a second pair of parallel bars mounted on the tableoverlying said sleeves and spaced inwardly from the first pair ofparallel bars, a clamping member pivoted to the table and movable fromupright position down to a position overlying the leaf when the latteris lying on the table, means to move the first pair of parallel barsinwardly toward each other to a position beneath the clamping member forfolding the sleeves around the r second mentioned parallel bars and tobring portions of the sleeves between the clamping member and said leaf,with the outer ends of the sleeves projecting outwardly, means to presssaid clamping member down toward the leaf to pinch the portions of thesleeves folded about said first mentioned pair of parallel bars in theirinwardly moved positions, and means to move the first pair of parallelbars outwardly away from each other back to normal position, leaving theportions of the sleeves between the clamping member and the leaf pinchedagainst the leaf by the said clamping member.

13. A shirt folding machine comprising a table, a leaf hinged to thetable, a pair of parallel bars normally at the sides of the table andsubstantially at the plane of the top of the table, means to move saidparallel bars inwardly toward each other and then outwardly back tonormal position, said means for moving said parallel bars being an airmotor, a pair of side flaps spaced from one. another and normally in theplane of the top of the table, and swingable on the table inwardly abouttheir inner sides to a position overlying a portion of the table betweensaid side flaps and back to normal position, and an air motor foractuating the swinging movement for each side flap.

14. In combination, a bed on which a shirt to be folded may be placed, aform movable onto the top of the shirt on the table and about which theshirt is to be folded, means on the bed to fold sleeve portions of theshirt over the form about intermediate portions thereof inwardly towardeach other, and with the outer ends of the sleeves being foldedoutwardly about folds on the sleeves located in proximity to each other,means on the bed about which said sleeves are folded at saidintermediate portions thereof, means to clamp said proximate foldedportions against said form, and means on the bed to fold longitudinalside portions of said shirt and folded sleeves about the central portionof the shirt, said last means comprising plates resting on said bed andhinged about inner spaced edges and being adapted to underlie said bodyof said shirt and being swingable substantialy 180 inwardly intooverlying position relative to said bed.

15. In combination, a bed on which a shirt to be folded may be placed,a-form movable onto the top of the shirt on the table and about whichthe shirt is to be folded, means on the bed to fold sleeve portions ofthe shirt over the form, about intermediate portions thereof inwardlytoward each other, and with the outer ends of the sleeves being foldedoutwardly about folds on the sleeves located in proximity to each other,means on the bed about which said sleeves are folded at saidintermediate portions thereof, means to clamp said proximate foldedportions against said form, and means on the bed to fold longitudinalside portions of said shirt and folded sleeves about the central portionof the shirt, said last means comprising plates resting on said bed andhinged about inner spaced edges and being adapted to underlie said bodyof said shirt and being swingable substantially 180" inwardly intooverlying position relative to said bed, said means about whichintermediate portions of the sleeves are folded comprising membershaving longitudinally extending portions and being swingable aboutpivots aligned with the hinges for said plates, and said members beingswingable about their said pivots substantially 180 so as to swing withsaid plates.

16. In combination with a bed on which a shirt to be folded may beplaced with the sleeves of the shirt extending outwardly and with thebody of the shirt flattened on the bed, a form movable over the top ofthe upper central portion of the shirt body, a pair of members havingportions overlying the shirt and engaging the shirt sleeves adjacent theshoulders of the shirt, means underlying the shirt sleeves and swingableinwardly for folding the shirt sleeves about said shirt sleeve engagingportions, a pair of members underlying the shirt body forwardly of thesleeves, said shirt sleeve engaging members being swingable about axesdisposed inwardly of said shirt sleeve engaging portions, the said pairof members which underlie the body of the shirt being swingable aboutaxes aligned with the axes about which said shirt sleeve engagingmembers are pivoted, and said shirt sleeve engaging portions overlappingthe members which underlie the body of the shirt, and means to swingsaid members which underlie the body of the shirt inwardly for swingingsaid shirt sleeve engaging members therewith, whereby to foldlongitudinal side portions of the shirt together with shoulder portionsof the shirt inwardly over the central portion of the shirt.

17. A shirt folding machin comprising a table, a leaf hinged to thetable, a pair of parallel bars normally at the sides of the table andsubstantially at the plane of the top of the table, means to move saidparallel bars inwardly toward each other and then outwardly back tonormal position, a pair of side flaps spaced from one another andnormally in the plane of the top of the table, and swingable on thetable inwardly about their inner sides to a position overlying a portionof the table between said side flaps and back to normal position, andmeans for actuating the swinging movement for each side flap.

18. A shirt folding machine comprising a table on which a shirt to befolded may be placed, a leaf on the table adapted to move to a positionoverlying the central portion of the shirt, a pair of bars at the top ofthe table spaced outwardly from the sides of said leaf and disposedbeneath the sleeves of the shirt, a second pair of bars on the table,overlying said sleeves and spaced inwardly from the first pair of barsand adjacent thereto, said first and second pairs of bars beingsubstantially in the plane of the top of the table, means to move thefirst pair of bars inwardly toward each other and above th leaf forfolding the sleeves inwardly around the second mentioned bars, and meansto clamp inwardly folded portions of the sleeves against the top of saidleaf, and means to thereafter move said first mentioned bars outwardlyto their first position, while leaving the inwardly folded and clampedportions of the sleeves in clamped condition against the top of saidleaf.

19. A shirt folding machine comprising a table on which a shirt to befolded may be placed, a leaf on the table adapted to move to a positionoverlying the central portion of the shirt, a pair of bars at the top ofthe table spaced outwardly from the sides of said leaf and disposedbeneath the sleeves of the shirt, a second pair of bars on the table,overlying said sleeves and spaced inwardly from the first pair of barsand adjacent thereto, said first and second pairs of bars beingsubstantially in the plane of the top of the table, means to move thefirst pair of bars inwardly toward each other and above the leaf forfolding the sleeves inwardly around the second mentioned bars, and meansto clamp inwardly folded portions of the sleeves a ainst the top of saidleaf, and means to thereafter move said first mentioned bars outwardlyto their first position. while leaving the inwardly folded and clampedportions of the sleeves in clamped condition against the top of saidleaf. a pair of side flaps beneath the body of the shirt and in theplane of th table, said second. mentioned pair of parallel barsoverlapping said side flaps, said side flaps being swingable about theirinner sides and said second mentioned pair of bars bein mounted inswinging movement substantially about the axis of said flaps, and meansto swing said flaps about their inner sides for folding the sides of pthe shirt inwardly over the top central portion of the shirt, and forsimultaneously swinging said second mentioned pair of bars about theirpivots simultaneously, so as to fold the upper ends f 12 the shirt overthe upper central portion of the shirt.

20. A shirt folding machine comprising a table on which a shirt to befolded may be placed, a form on the table and adapted to move on to thetop of the table to overlie the central upper portion of the shirt, apair of bars at the top of the table in spaced relationship to the sidesof said form, and the sleeves of the shirt extending outwardly and oversaid pair of bars, a second pair of bars on the table, overlying saidsleeves and spaced inwardly from the first pair of bars, means to movethe first pair of bars inwardly toward each other to a positionoverlying the form for folding the sleeves around the second mentionedbars, and to bring parts of the sleeves into position overlying saidform, with the outer ends of said sleeves projecting outwardly, means tomove the first pair of bars outwardly away from each other back toinitial position, leaving the inwardly folded parts of the sleeves abovethe form, and side flaps on the table disposed beneath the body of theshirt and swingable about their inner sides to bring side portions ofthe shirt over the central portion of the shirt.

21. A shirt folding machine comprising a table on which a shirt to befolded may be placed, a form on the table and adapted to move on to thetop of the table to overlie the central upper portion of the shirt, apair of bars at the top of the table in spaced relationship to the sidesof said form, and the sleeves of the shirt extending outwardly and oversaid bars, a second pair of bars on the table, overlying said sleevesand spaced inwardly from the first pair of bars, means to move the firstpair of bars inwardly toward each other to a position overlying the formfor folding the sleeves around the second mentioned bars, and to bringportions of the sleeves into position overlying said form, with theouter ends of said sleeves projecting outwardly, means to move the firstpair of bars outwardly away from each other back to initial position,leaving the inwardly folded portions of the sleeves above the form, andside flaps on the table disposed beneath the body of the shirt andswingable about their inner sides to bring side portions of the shirtover the central portion of the shirt, said second pair of barsoverlapping said side fiaps and said second pair of bars being swingableabout the axis of said side flaps, whereby swinging movement of the sideflaps to fold the sides of the shirt inwardly will cause swingingmovement of said second pair of bars inwardly simultaneously to fold theshoulder portions of the shirt inwardly over said inwardly foldedsleeves.

22. In combination, a bed upon which a shirt to be folded may be placedwith the sleeves of the shirt projecting outwardly and with the body ofthe shirt fiattened on the bed, a form movable on to the top of thecentral upper end of the shirt, a pair of parallel bars at the top ofthe table and beneath said sleeves, a second pair of bars at the top ofthe table and above said sleeves and disposed inwardly of the first barsand adjacent thereto, said first bars being swingable about parallelaxes disposed below the top of the table toward the central portion ofthe top of the table, and said second bars being hinged about axesdisposed at the top of the table and inwardly of the bars through anglesof degrees to positions at substantially the central portion of thetable, and means for swinging the first bars inwardly while retainingthe second bars in their initial position to fold the sleeves inwardlyabout the second bars into position overlying said form, and means forclamping the inwardly folded portions of the sleeves to the top of theform, and means for swinging said first bars outwardly back to initialposition, leaving the inwardly folded portions of the sleeves clamped tothe top of the form.

23. In combination, a bed upon which a shirt to be folded may be placedwith the sleeves of the shirt projecting outwardly and with the body ofthe shirt flattened on the bed, a form movable on to the top of thecentral upper end of the shirt, a pair of parallel bars at the top ofthe table and beneath said sleeves, a second pair of bars at the top ofthe table and above said sleeves and disposed inwardly of the first barsand adjacent thereto, said first bars being swingable about parallelaxes disposed below the top of the table toward the central portion ofthe top of the table, and said second bars being hinged about axesdisposed at the top of the table and inwardly of the bars through anglesof 180 degrees to positions at substantially the central portion of thetable, and means for swinging the first bars inwardly while retainingthe second bars in their initial position to fold the sleeves inwardlyabout the second bars into position overlying said form, and means forclamping the inwardly folded portions of the sleeves to the top of theform, and means for swinging said first bars outwardly back to initialposition, leaving the inwardly folded portions of the sleeves clamped tothe top of the form, means for folding portions of the body of the shirtbelow the sleeves inwardly into overlying position with respect to thecentral portion of the body of the shirt.

24. In combination, a bed upon which a shirt to be folded may be placedwith the sleeves of the shirt projecting outwardly and with the body ofthe shirt flattened on the bed, a form movable on to the top of thecentral upper end of the shirt, a pair of parallel bars at the top ofthe table and beneath said sleeves, a second pair of bars at the top ofthe table and above said sleeves and disposed inwardly of the first barsand adjacent thereto, said first bars being swingable about parallelaxes disposed below the top of the table toward the central portion ofthe top of the table, and said second bars bein hinged about axesdisposed at the top of the table and inwardly of the bars through anglesof degrees to positions at substantially the central portion of thetable, and means for swinging the first bars inwardly while retainingthe second bars in their initial position to fold the sleeves inwardlyabout the second'bars into position overlying said form, and means forclamping the inwardly folded portions of the sleeves to the top of theform, and means for swinging said first bars outwardly back to initialposition. leaving the inwardly folded portions of the sleeves clamped tothe top of the form, means for folding portions of the body of the shirtbelow the sleeves inwardly into overlying position with respect to thecentral portion of the body or the shirt, and said second mentioned pairof bars overlapping said last mentioned folding means whereby when saidlast mentioned folding means is folded inwardly said second mentionedpair of bars will be simultaneously swung inwardly to fold the shoulderportions of the shirt inwardly together with the sides of the body ofthe shirt.

AUGUSTINE ARRUDA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,130,733 Combarette Sept. 20,1938 2,362,976 Cooper Nov. 21, 1944

